Electric-current-grounding device for fire-extinguishing apparatus.



. W. A. BENNETT- ELECTRIC CURRENT GROUNDING DEVICE FBH FIRE EXTENGUESHING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Mar. 14, 1900.

2 Sheets-Sheet l,

(10 Model.)

v iii/7;" E w wea Nu. 654,138. Patented luiy 24, A900.

' W. A. BENNETT.

ELECTRIC CUFREEJT GROUNDING DEVICE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

- (Application filed Mar. 14, 1900.|

(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

VJIllLlAM A. BENNETT, OF SPRlNGFIELD, tiassnonusn'r'rs.

.ELECTRIC-CURREllT-GROUNDiNG DEVICE FOR FlRE-EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

@LIiiiGIEIiQ QJEIOH forming part oi fiiettere Patent l lo. 654,188, dated iuly 24;, 190d.

I Application filed liiercli 14, 1900. Serial No. 8,866. (No model.)

To of] whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Springfield, in. the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric-Current-Grounding Devices for Fire-Extinguishing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for protecting firemen from the effects of contact of live electric wires with their apparatus; and it consists in the construction and arrange ment described in the following specification, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

lhis invention is particularly adaptcdto aerial ladders, which from the nature of their service are frequently brought into contact with live wires of the electric traction or electrio-light service, whereby the ladders and body of the vehicle may become a part of the electric circuit of the said systems, whereby a shock, oftentimes dangerous to life, maybe given to a fireman coming in contact with any part of the truck-body, or, the lire apparatus being charged with electricity and insulated, or partiallyso, by the wooden wheels on which it runs, a fireman on the apparatus might not have knowledge of the electric contact thereof with alive wire, and thus might step down from the apparatus to the ground, thus completing the circuit and receiving a dangerous shock.

One object of this invention is to provide means whereby the fire apparatus to which it is attached maybe quickly connected by a metallic circuit with a hydrant or some similar ground connection, which by reason of its superior conductivity would render it impossible for a person coming in contact with a lire apparatus so connected to divert the electric current from said metallic connection should the apparatus at the time of such contact form part of an electric circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for permitting the free movement of the lire apparatus within certain limits relative to the point atwhich the circuit is grounded.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an aerial-ladder truck; showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detailed view, partly in section, of a reel adapted to be supported on a tire apparatus for holdinga quantity oi insulated wire cable. Fig. 3is an end elevation of the reel, partly in section. Fig. is a longitudinal sectional view of a hook adapt ed to be applied to a hydrant and to be new nected to the wire cable on the reel.

While in the drawings forming part of this application the invention is shown appliedto a ladder-truck, it is equally applicable to anyother type of vehicle adapted to be operated in the vicinity of live electric Wires, whereby a person coming in contact with said vehicle or stopping from the vehicle to the ground might in case of the contact of said vehicle with one of said live wiresbe liable to receive a current through the body. As stated, how ever, the invention is particularly applicable to the type of ladder-trucks shown on account of the special service for which the truck is used and on account of the fact that metal enters largely into their construction.

In carrying this invention into practice I attach to the'hodyof the truck (indicated by 1) at any convenient point, but preferably back of the rear axle thereof, a reel adapted to receive such a length of insulated wire as inay'be thought desirable. This reel is supported in the construction shown herein on a rod 2, extending between two oppositelylocated side pieces 3 of thoracic in which the ladders 4 are carried and below the latter.

On this rod 2 is a sleeve 5, of brass which is secured between said side pieces 3 in fixed position by means of nuts on the ends olf said rod screwed up against the outside of said pieces, through which said rod passes. The rcel proper consists of a barrel 6 and suit able heads 7 and 8, preferably made of wood and divided longitudinally, as shown'iu Fig. A brass bushing 9 is secured between the two halves of the reel by fastening the latter together with screws or in any other convenieut Way, the said bushing fitting over the sleeve 5 and adapted to rotate thereon. The onlypurpose in placing the brass sleeve 5 on said rod 2 and providing the reel with a brass bushing is to insure good electric contact between said part-s. i

' Electrical connection between the bushing 9 and the cablo 10 on the reel is made by at: aching a short metallic conductor ii from he end of the bushing which projects bcfond the end of the reel to a binding-post l2 on the head 7 of the reel and by attaching} the inner cud of the cable 1 to nnothcrconf dun-tor 33, which wtends From a sccond bindbig-post 14; down to or near to the barrel of the re l. On each bl.:LllIlg-}:Oit arc Sct cd tlii .apri jaws i5, and a switch U3, pivoted to the head of the rccl and :u ,ptcd to swing, into and out of en ngemcnt with the jaws on said bindingposts, .Lt'VUS to make or break l thccircnit bctu'ccn tho inner endcf tho cable l on the reel am. the body oi. the vehicle on i which it i /ii tho outer end of the cable is secured boot; 17, shown in longitudinal. section in.

Fig. 4-,);1115. for convenieru'ae of manipulation and to avoid the possibi snoclc in handling lity of receiving a it said hook provided with. a handlo of wood or some other insulatinc" material.

.lo protect the rec fall and freeze the from walcr which might on or from injury from l falling bricks, tie, it may be provided with l a protective hood l8, securcd in any couvcui icni; manner over it. I

The above description malccs it obvious tha if the body of a vehicle be onucrted by cans of a metallic connection wirh a the hydrant or other suitable ground connection a person may conic in contact with sar'l vchiclc Without diverting, an cloctric current passing through said vehicle-body to himself,

zuctaillc connection is suilicicnt to carryaway from said vehiclcbody much of tho elcctric energy as is rcccivcd by said vehicle.

The operation of my. device is as follows: Whcn it attached to a ladder-truck, as nlmwn and described herein, as soon as the truck arrives on the field of operation before a ladder raised the hook 17in grasped and the cable run oil. the reel to a sufficient; amount to reach the n :nrcst hydrant or other suitable ground conucc ion, the switch on the and of the reel meanwhile being thrown into engagement with the two bi oiling-posts thereon to compietc tho commotion between the f. li'jllil(l. and the truclobody. While this councction romains closed the truck may be touched with. impunity by persons standing on the ground. without the slightest danger.

'lfior any reason it in desired to use the l v' (11 piovidcd thcconductivccapacn or said I hydrant;

iaddcrs inountcd on the truck for reaching livc,wires which are to be out, then in case thtruclc-body is connected by the cable 10 to the ground the switch on the end of the reel is thrown out of Contact with the bindingposts, whereby the circuit through the truck-body to the ground is broken, and as the truck is insulated by the Wooden Wheels on whiclrit runs the wires to be out may then be handled from a position on the truck without danger.

I do not wish it to be understood thati confine myself to the particular reel construction (inscribed herein or to the particular means for making a quick connection with a but the sul'istantial equivalent-s of these devices will clearly come within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States, is-

l. The combination with the truck-frann of an aerial ladder or analogous vehicle, of a metallic connection, one end of which is in. electrical connection with the said frame, and tho other end of which i adapted to be placed in electrical connection. with the earth, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the frame of an aerial-ladder truck or analogous apparatus, of an extensible metallic connection between said frame and the ground consisting .of a wire cable, and a reel on which it is carried, attached to said truck; one end of said cable being in electrical connection with tho iramo, and ti with the earth, substantially as described.

3-3. The combination with an aerial-laddertruck frame or analogous apparatus, of up oxteusiblc metallic connection botwcen said frame and the ground consisting of a reel supported on said frame, an insulated wire cablo carried on said reel, one end of which cable is in electrical connection with the frame through the reel, and the opposite end in electrical connection with the earth, and a suitable switch between the ends of the cable, whereby an electric circuit established therethrough may be broken, substantially as described.

II. A. CHAPIN, K. I. CLEM'ONS.

1c opposite end thereof in connection IOC 

